Last year, 96 Samaritans volunteers from the Leatherhead branch answered 36,574 calls for help, according to the latest figures released by the national helpline charity. Overall in the region, 1,619 volunteers in the South East of England answered 465,474 calls for help in 2012.
The figures are being released to coincide with Volunteers’ Week, which runs from 1-7 June. Samaritans is taking this opportunity to say a very big “thank you” to the 20,980 generous volunteers who provide the round-the-clock service, answering more than five million calls for help, from people struggling to cope, each year.
If you are interested in volunteering at Leatherhead Samaritans you can visit our stand at the Ashtead Village Day on the 8th June or we are holding an information day on 22nd June at the Leatherhead Institute from 2.30pm to 4pm.
In November this year, Samaritans will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of founder, Prebendary Dr Chad Varah CH CBE, taking the first Samaritans call on 02 November 1953.
Launching the anniversary celebrations earlier this month HRH The Prince of Wales, Patron of Samaritans, hosted a reception for distinguished guests and volunteers. Among those present were Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley, Lord Grade and Felcity Varah Harding, daughter of the Founder.
His Royal Highness also visited Central London Samaritans, the largest and oldest Samaritans branch, where he unveiled a portrait of the Founder and met with volunteers, staff and donors.
Helen Morrison, Branch Director of Leatherhead Samaritans, said:
“Without our dedicated volunteers we wouldn’t be here for people struggling to cope. Volunteers from Leatherhead Samaritans reach out to the local community in schools, prisons, and in Doctors surgeries. It’s clear from the call figures we’re releasing today, that sixty years after Samaritans was founded, people need us as much as they ever did.”
For more information about volunteering at Leatherhead Samaritans, please contact recruitment on 07913 552271 or email leatherheadsamspv@hotmail.co.uk
Samaritans is available round the clock, every single day of the year. We provide a safe place for anyone struggling to cope, whoever they are, however they feel, whatever life has done to them. Please call 08457 90 90 90 (UK) 1850 60 90 90 (ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find details of the nearest branch.
